Family says Mexican journalist seized by armed men

Veracruz: Armed men seized a Mexican journalist and activist from his home in the eastern state of Veracruz, the man's family said on Saturday.

Jorge Sanchez Ordonez said he saw his father Moises Sanchez Cerezo being taken away by men in civilian clothing who arrived in three vehicles yesterday.

Sanchez Cerezo is the owner of a small-circulation weekly newspaper called Union de Barrial in the municipality of Medellin. The son said he has reported on violence in the city and had received threats.

He also recently helped form a citizens' "self-defense committee" meant to defend neighbourhoods against crime.

The state attorney general's office declined to give information about the case, but Governor Javier Duarte told reporters that "all lines of investigation" were being considered. "Our priority is to be able to locate him to return him to his family," the governor said. He referred to Sanchez Cerezo as "a taxi driver and neighbourhood activist."

The Mexican branch of the free-speech group Article 19 issued an alert on the disappearance.

Veracruz has suffered from years of drug gang violence. Ten journalists have been killed in the state since 2010.